Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Duke University Students Receive iPods

Posted by michael on from the they'll-be-up-on-ebay-soon dept.

DSLAMngu writes "Freshman students at Duke University received their complimentary/paid for (however you want to look at it) iPod portable music players on Thurday. This deal was previously mentioned on /. here. After waiting in line, I eventually got my Duke-engraved iPod at about 9:00 PM with the rest of the freshmen at Brown dorm. I've written about the experience at my blog, and also included a copy of the Program Agreement and some photos of what the students received."

10 of 308 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Blog web design by dan+dan+the+dna+man · · Score: 4, Insightful

    A good excuse not to RTFA in my opinion :) Not that anyone does. Actually not that I did after being assaulted aurally and visually with that.

    --
    I don't read your sig, why do you read mine?
  2. Why? by aussie_a · · Score: 5, Insightful

    My first response was WHY would anyone want this (not including students)? Then it hit me. Apple wants it because 1. They've made a profit. 2. If this catches on they can tap into people they otherwise wouldn't have. The university wants it because now they can say to future people considering which university to go to "look our cool and high-tech we are." Win-win for everyone.

    1. Re:Why? by BasilBrush · · Score: 4, Insightful
      Because they are experimenting with a new tool for learning. Maybe they'll get lots of worthwhile educational use out of it and they'll do it again, and other universities might follow them. Maybe it'll turn out to be a flop and it'll be the only year it's tried.

      Don't think an iPod can be a tool for learning? How many song lyrics do you know reasonably well? Tens, hundreds, thousands? Why is that? Partly because the rhythm and meter of the music forms a repetitive framework in which you can fit the words. But mainly because you listen to ones you like over and over again.

      Hey, 10 years ago I was doing a degree with the Open University in England - which is a distance learning setup. And part of the package was audio tapes.

      Maybe Duke will manage to harness this potential for learning through hearing repeatedly, maybe they won't. But we don't progress unless someone tries it and reports back. (That could be a motto for slashdot!)

  3. so what.. by Pidder · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So what if they received their iPod. In one way or another they will pay for it in their tuition fee.

  4. Lectures as MP3? by bhima · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Will the lectures be available as MP3?

    Otherwise what's the point?

    --
    Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
  5. I'm surprised at Duke's admissions standards. by tiktokfx · · Score: 5, Insightful

    How did someone who could create that monstrosity of a log style be honestly evaluated as a suitable candidate for acceptance at Duke?

  6. wake forest=#1 cool tech toys in acc by defective_warthog · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Incoming Wakies get think pads. 2008 specs
    Now that's cool...

  7. iPod your DUKE! by autopr0n · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Wow, this is just absolutly facinating for people who are not freshman at Duke Univ. It dosn't sound like more needless iPod promotion on /. Nope, not at all.

    --
    autopr0n is like, down and stuff.
  8. eBay by ka55ad · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I just checked ebay and I am surprised that I haven't found any "Limited Edition Duke iPod's" for sale yet.

  9. Re:Blog web design by R.Mo_Robert · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If you think your mind is numb from the animated GIFs, whatever you do, don't to a View > Page Source! The first tag is a ... a ... TABLE!

    (Yes, that's right, there's supposedly a table before even the opening HTML tag.)

    --
    R.Mo